Calls for Investigation Into Vaccine Links to Autism While Presenting His Health Secretary Nominee
December 10, 2024, 12:30 pm

Calls for Investigation Into Vaccine Links to Autism While Presenting His Health Secretary Nominee

ترامب \ تعبيرية \ متداول

President-elect Donald Trump has indicated that Robert Kennedy Jr., his nominee for Secretary of Health, may initiate an investigation into a presumed link between vaccines and autism, despite the prevailing consensus in the medical community that denies any connection between the two.

In an interview with NBC, Trump stated that conducting such an investigation is "justified," given the noticeable increase in autism diagnoses among American children over the past 25 years.

When asked if he was looking to eliminate certain vaccines, a position supported by Kennedy, Trump replied: "When you look at the diseases in our country, you'll see that something unusual is happening." He added, "If you go back 25 years, autism was rare, affecting one in every 100,000. Now, it’s about one in every 100."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in every 36 children in the U.S. was diagnosed with autism in 2020, compared to one in every 150 in 2000.

Kennedy, known for his skepticism regarding vaccine efficacy, has reiterated his call for further research into the effects of vaccinations on children. In an interview with Fox News last year, he stated that "vaccines should be subjected to the same standards of testing or clinical trials that any other medication goes through," noting that they are exempt from such trials before obtaining approval, making it difficult to assess their associated risks.

For its part, the World Health Organization (WHO) has dismissed any connection between autism and the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine and has affirmed that the increase in diagnosis rates in recent years can be attributed to improved autism screenings. Scientists have indicated that this phenomenon results from a complex interplay of factors, including genetic and environmental influences, as well as certain health issues that may occur during pregnancy and childbirth.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”